Education pioneer and philanthropist Sunny Varkey on Friday urged content creators and social media influencers to use their platforms to highlight the global crisis of out-of-school children, calling on them to help make the issue “trend and go viral”.
Speaking at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai alongside world-renowned content creator MrBeast, Varkey said the education crisis remains largely invisible on social media despite affecting hundreds of millions of children worldwide.
The summit, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, is the world’s largest gathering of digital content creators and focuses on how new media can drive positive social change and economic growth.
According to Varkey, there are currently 272 million children out of school globally, with little progress made over the past decade. UNICEF estimates that the number could rise to 278 million by the end of the year.
Addressing the audience onstage, Varkey, founder of GEMS Education and the Varkey Foundation, said: “Did you know that globally there are 272 million children not in school today? It is a global education crisis. This is a scar on the world’s conscience. And yet, I have never once seen this crisis trend on social media.”
He said the issue often fails to capture public attention because its effects are gradual rather than immediate. “Perhaps that is because its impact is gradual rather than dramatic. It doesn’t lend itself to a simple powerful photo that shows the suffering of its victims. But it is there – a cancer slowly eating away at the futures of young people around the world,” he said.
Issuing a direct appeal to digital creators, Varkey added: “So today, I want to set a challenge. I challenge every content creator here to help make the global education crisis trend- and go viral – so we can advance the cause of getting every child into school. This is urgent. Education is the greatest gift we can give.”
The panel also featured His Excellency Saeed Al Eter, Chair of the UAE Government Media Office, and Jeffery Housenbold, CEO of Beast Industries.
A key highlight of the summit is the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness initiative, launched in partnership with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, MrBeast, the 1 Billion Followers Summit and the Varkey Foundation. The initiative aims to drive global social impact through education, empowerment and community development.
As part of the programme, 20 content creators were selected to travel to Ghana with MrBeast to help build a village that will include schools, access to clean water and healthcare. Their journey will be shared with MrBeast’s more than one billion followers to inspire further action worldwide.
Recent research by the Reuters Institute underscores the influence of social media, showing that 36% of people globally use Facebook and 30% use YouTube for news each week, while around 19% rely on Instagram and WhatsApp—highlighting the potential of digital platforms to shape awareness and drive change on global issues.
